“From Knowledgeable to Knowledge-able” by Michael Wesch
Connections:
In this article Michael Wesch discusses the advent of technology and social media. Many teachers shy away from technology and try to keep it away from students. This article shows how it can be useful. Teenagers are surrounded by social media.
I made connections to the Croteau piece called “Media and Ideology” The social media is a new way to enforce dominant ideologies. Before it was television writers, authors, and musicians, now anyone can do this. Any person can express their views on a blog or their facebook page. In research people can read different viewpoints and develop their own views. They can interact with people on the other side of the globe.
I also thought of the Raby piece. The lives of teenagers are more open than ever through facebook. Teenagers can be who they want to be online. Sometimes it may be fictitious representations of them. Educators can enforce these ideas. Wesch talks about multiple choice and teachers emphasizing memorizing. Now teachers can make use of internet research and allow students to find different perspectives to be brought in.
For many it wasn’t until college when people are exposed to different religions and different ideas about the world. Now that can come earlier. There are a lot of questions that have no right or wrong answers. Teachers teach to dominant ideologies but students are exposed to so much more. Critical thinking and teaching media literacy is more important.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/16/teenagers-mobiles-facebook-social-networking
I wonder about the discourse issues as well. Since the dominant discourses Raby talks about are do prominent and naturalized, do we just keep reinforcing them because they get reproduced in social media too!!? Good connections.
ReplyDeleteI also thought of the Raby piece. The conclusion I came to was that a whole new set of discourses is needed for Wesch's ideal. Not only do we need a new way of teaching and learning, but we also new new ways to talk about teaching and learning.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, you bring up some great points and I really liked your link! Dante, I like your point as well, not only does teaching have to change but the discourses of teaching as well, I think you really captured what Wesch was trying to say.
ReplyDeleteI really like your point about facebook and online. Many teenagers are able to break out of the expected roles given to them by educators/their parents/peers online.
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